"I've never left anything in it's original form, always looking for ways to improve or customise what I was working on."

From the age of 14 my focus changed, I started doing photography at school and I first heard Gary Numan sing "Are Friends Electric?"

So as you can see, I am a massive fan of Mr Numan. He introduced me to another world, darkness and science fiction. He also flew planes (he is often reminded of this) and this got me into military aircraft, in a big way.

Typhoon over Eastbourne

Red Arrows

With the Airshows came photography, it got to the point that I would shoot up to 10 rolls of film with my trusty Minolta 9000. It became expensive and, at times, very exciting. Being chased by a MOD car because you are parked up near the perimeter fence of RAF Boscombe Down at 04:30 hrs, gets the heart beating.

Mig 29

My Uncle worked for Martin Baker and used to get me and my mate tickets to the press days at Farnborough Airshow. I was sat in a F-111 Aardvark cockpit on the first day the Migs landed at Farnborough, it was a big deal (end of the cold war) but nearly became bigger when I asked the pilot what this did, as I flicked on the targeting system for the sidewinder missiles and locked onto the Mig. The pilot calmly asked me not to press the fire button and WW3 was averted for the time being.

Shoreham Power Station

Phase one of my life came to a close, my priorities changed (kids) and the camera took a back seat.

Arlington Reservoir

2010, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and it's really hard to explain how it feels to be told that you have an incurable, life changing and debilitating disease. I now know that I'm not the only one but at the time, boy, it was very hard. To help cheer me up, my wife bought me a digital camera, a Sony, it came with the added bonus of using the same lens mount as my Minolta. Suddenly I was set free to shoot two or three hundred images a day and not worry about the cost. Phase two began!

I can see you

Swan in reeds

With digital images comes post production and I invested in a new PC, with a view to maybe do something more than just take pictures, maybe make a career out of it.

"How hard can it be? I know how to take a good picture."

Phase Three, Adobe

With my new PC, I bought Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 4. I'd seen for some time that Photoshop was the professionals choice for editing and if I was going to be a professional then I needed it too. What they don't tell you is that it's written in some strange alien tech language that to the average Joe means something entirely different, "dodge and burn?"

I needed help

I found help in the most remarkable way, Phil Steele.

I signed up for his "Lightroom made easy" course and it was the best thing I've done in ages. Phil is an incredibly good tutor with a relaxed style that engages you from the start.

I did it, suddenly I felt like a pro (pity the fool) and knew that I was ready to take on the world. Time to try out Photoshop, I was starting to speak the language, Phil even had a basics video to help.

"Don't point that thing at me!"

One day, as often happens, Phil sent me an e-mail to promote a friend of his.

Sebastian Michaels

Sebastian was just starting a new course to do with "fine art grunge". This was entirely new to me and I wasn't sure but it came with a very low offer to join. Sebastian was just starting off and was busy developing the course on the fly. I joined, safe in the knowledge that I could get my money back after 60 days if it didn't work out.

Time Storm

"Shut the Front Door" I had found my nirvana, the place I wanted to be in. This is where all my creativity, darkness and expression can co-exist and produce remarkable artwork.

Phase four

Awake

living the (photo) artistic life

Some of my Awake Coursework

And now a new day has dawned....

Asylum

Darkness

Skin Game

Hopefully you can see that I've improved, I've had so much fun in the Awake course that when Sebastian asked me if I'd be interested in joining his new Black and White course......

All works are my own with stock elements from either the Awake course, www.designcuts.com and largely www.ingimage.com. I do not claim any copyright for the use of any image of Gary Numan, these images were made for the fans.